_The Gunpowder Plot and the Conspirator._
_The Mystery Unfolding._
JUST as the fading twilight was yielding to darkness, and before
Lieutenant Wells had been removed from his cell by request of Alibamo, a
scene occurred to which we must revert.
The room in which Wells was placed was in the wing of a log-house, just
in the rear of the brick school-house to which we have alluded. Two
doors led from this apartment, one opening into the garden, the other
into the main building. This latter door had been firmly secured. Near
that opening into the garden, was a small window, the only one in the
apartment. As the guard was stationed at the door, escape from the room
was impossible. Surrounding this garden were a number of hedges running
in various directions, some of them forming the street fence, while
others ornamented the winding gravel walks.
As soon as it was quite dark, a person closely enveloped and disguised,
emerged from among the tents, and passed cautiously along in the still
intenser darkness of the hedge shadow. Ever and anon he would pause and
listen. Finally he reached the further hedge, remote from the camp. He
paused a moment, and then gave a low and peculiar whistle. It was
immediately answered, and two men joined the first comer.
“Are you ready?”
“No!” was the answer.
“And why not?”
“Because we have not received our pay.”
“Is that the _only_ reason?”
“The only reason after you have given us full instructions.”
“Where is your powder?”
“In the upper part of the garden, under the hedge. We have secured eight
twelve pound shells which we took from that battery over yonder. Powder
enough to blow a mountain to the devil.”
“Well, here is a hundred apiece. When the job is done, you will find as
much more in the hollow log that I pointed out last night. Be careful
and make sure work!”
“Well, your instructions!”
“You will follow the outer hedge. Creep along with great caution, and
make no noise. There will be no danger, as the guard are not on the
north side of the camp. When you reach the log-building in the rear of
the brick school-house, you will observe a small wing, or addition,
extending to the rear. At the back of this wing you will find an
excavation under the house sufficiently large for your shells. Place
them in it, lay your train, and then apply the torch. But you must do
this with great caution, as a guard is stationed upon the opposite
side.”
“Don’t be alarmed. Any one near that old log-shanty will go to kingdom
come before to-morrow morning.”
The trio then separated.
* * * * *
When Captain Walker was seized and chained by the soldiers, he made a
desperate resistance, but in vain. He soon occupied the little room
vacated by Lieutenant Wells. The door closed; he heard the clanking of
the heavy chains which secured it, and left him in utter darkness. He
stamped, and raved and cursed. Suddenly starting, and wildly clutching
his throat, as if some terrible thought had crossed his mind, he groaned
and sunk upon the floor.
“Fool! oh! fool that I was! I thought if I _pretended_ friendship, and
offered to assist in his escape, all suspicion of this night’s work
would be diverted from me. But now—oh! my God! What is the hour? Hark! I
hear them working under the building! No! it is not the men yet. It is
too early. I dare not tell the guard, for an acknowledgment of any
suspicion of such a plot would be a confession of _my_ guilt. Let me
search for some mode of escape!”
Walker crawled cautiously around the floor, but not a crevice could be
found. Finally, exhausted, he sunk down, giving way to his utter
despair. An hour—two hours—dragged slowly by, which appeared an age of
misery to the wretched man.
“If I give the alarm, even saying that a peculiar sound attracted my
attention, the ruffians who are to do the work, will recognize me, and I
shall, thus implicated, suffer an ignominious death! What is that? Great
God! they are at work! But they are making so much noise that the guard
will hear them, and I shall yet be saved!”
“Don’t make quite so much noise in there, if you please!” exclaimed the
guard, as he knocked upon the door where he was stationed.
“It is not me!” yelled the frantic man. “Some one is at the rear of the
building, trying to dig through—they want to kill me!”
“We will see about that!” replied the guard, as he left his post, and
walked toward the spot indicated.
Walker fell upon his knees and exclaimed:
“Oh! I am saved—saved that dreadful death!”
He bent down, and applying his ear to a small crevice between the logs,
where the mud-mortar had fallen out, he listened. He could distinctly
hear the words spoken.
“Have you silenced that d—d guard?” was asked.
“Yes, cut his wizzen. No danger. Hurry with the train of powder!”
“Gentlemen!” yelled Walker, “don’t go any further. I am not the man!”
“Quick—fire the train!” exclaimed a voice outside.
A flash was seen, and then another said:
“Curse it, the train has failed. Throw the torch among the shells, and
then run!”
Walker waited to hear no more, but throwing himself with all his
violence against the door, he set up a series of yells, which made the
camp ring. In a moment steps were heard, the door was thrown open, and
Walker, livid with fear, and frantic, staggered into the open air,
gasping for breath. When he had sufficiently recovered his fright to
listen, the commander of the squad said:
“The powder-plot has been discovered, sir. There is no further danger on
that head. But you will return to your cell!”
This order Walker was compelled to obey, and he was again left in
darkness, with feelings better imagined than described.
* * * * *
The night wore slowly away. Lieutenant Wells had retired to his own
tent. His calmness of demeanor certainly did not indicate a guilty mind.
Alibamo, too, was wakeful, and strove by every possible kindness to
sustain the heart and hopes of her suffering companion. Miss Nettie
Morton, who had so recently joined their society, was occupying a tent
in company with Miss Sally Long, near that of Mrs. Hinton. They also,
were watchful—anxious for the morrow. But, perhaps, the most wretched
person in that camp was Captain Hugh Walker. No officer would have dared
to place irons upon him and confine him in a rough cell, upon any slight
pretext. Was it not possible that something of a serious character had
been discovered against him? This surmise seemed to haunt him, for he
acted in a manner to indicate the wildest apprehensions of danger.
Morning came at last, and slowly the day advanced. A guard brought
Walker his breakfast, but the man refused to answer any question. During
the afternoon he heard the beating of the drums, and the bugle-blast,
which he well understood was calling the division together for some
important purpose. He felt satisfied that one object was the reading of
the finding of the court-martial in the case of Lieutenant Wells. But,
what part was _he_ to play in the scene? This was the question which
caused his heart to beat with violence, as the chains fell from the door
of his prison, and he was called forth.
He accompanied the guard in silence, and soon entered the hollow square
formed by the three brigades of the division. Walker glanced eagerly
around, and there, standing beside the commanding General, was
Lieutenant Wells, with Miss Hayward leaning upon his arm, and near them
were their female friends. But a few paces distant were the two ruffians
who had been engaged in the powder-plot. All was silent. The General
advanced and said:
“Preliminary to other proceedings, I wish to ask Captain Walker if he
ever before saw these two men?”
The ruffians advanced, rattling their chains. But Walker drew back, and
with forced calmness he replied:
“I never have!” He dropped his head, gazing upon the ground.
The adjutant who held the sealed orders of the court-martial by which
Lieutenant Wells had been tried, then advanced, and was about to
commence reading the document in his hand, when a series of yells were
heard, and in the distance was seen the grotesque form of Nettleton, as
he came bounding along and bellowing:
“Stop the shootin’! Stop the shootin’!”
It was well known throughout the army that Nettleton had remained behind
in search of Captain Hayward. As he approached, the most intense
excitement was manifest. Lieutenant Wells could scarcely control his
feelings, and would have rushed forward to meet Nettleton, had not Mrs.
Hinton gently laid her hand upon his arm, begging him to be calm. Miss
Hayward clung closer to her lover, as she hoped the news about to be
brought by her brother’s friend would relieve her agony of suspense. A
half-suppressed cheer broke from the soldiers, as Nettleton burst into
the square.
He paused for a moment, his breast heaving, and his eyes glaring wildly.
But an instant was sufficient for him to discover that Wells was yet
alive, and that the object of his suspicion also lived. He sprung
forward, and, without uttering a word, seized Walker by the foot, which
he at once drew under his arm; then he as suddenly bounded for the spot
where the commandant was standing, dragging the foot along with him.
Of course this sudden movement on the part of Nettleton had thrown
Walker violently upon his head, and, although he kicked, and squirmed
and cursed, he was dragged along as if he had been a child.
When Nettleton reached the commander, he held the foot of Walker within
a few inches of that officer’s face, and yelled:
“Look! look! General—see them boots!”
Notwithstanding the intense anxiety felt for the result of Nettleton’s
search, the ridiculous figure he presented in his eagerness, and that of
Walker who was twisting and struggling to escape, a general laugh ran
through the division, which was joined in by the commander. Even Wells
could not suppress a smile.
“And what about those boots?” asked the commander, after silence had
been restored.
“Why, I’ve blacked them!” yelled Nettleton.
Another laugh was heard along the line.
“No doubt you have blacked them. But what of this?”
“Why, General, don’t you see them _two hearts_ made with nails, on the
sole of that boot?”
“Certainly I see them. And what then?”
Walker was now permitted to resume his upright position, and he stood
trembling with fear and rage, as Nettleton went on to relate his first
suspicions of Walker, his search for the body of Captain Hayward, his
finding the impression of the footprints standing side by side in the
mud, at the edge of the stream, with the marks of _two hearts_ in the
sole of each boot; and then the finding of the handkerchief in the
water, which Nettleton then produced.
The officer took the white linen witness, examining it closely, and then
said:
“Here is the name of ‘Walker,’ in the corner. William, did you find this
_near_ the place where the murder was committed?”
“Right by the spot where them two boots stood!” replied Nettleton,
pointing to Walker’s feet.
“I can explain this,” exclaimed Walker. “I went to the river that day to
wash, and I stood upon the bank to do so. I presume I left the
impression of my boots there at that time. If I did not, was I not also
present in the morning to examine the spot where the murder had been
committed? And is it a wonder that the impression of my boots should be
left behind?”
“That is certainly true,” replied the General. “But of the
handkerchief?”
“It fell from my hands as I was washing, and I did not take the trouble
to recover it.”
“It is very probable!” replied the General.
“So you perceive,” replied Walker, as he appeared to gain courage, “your
trumped up evidence has fallen to the ground! I did not expect a
combination of both officers and men against me, but I find it so. And
they wish to see _me_ suffer for the bloody deed done by that coward.
The only reason I can assign for this persecution is, that he is in
favor with the _ladies_, and you, sycophants that you are, hope, through
him, to gain favor with his fair companions. No doubt some bargain to
that effect already has been effected!”
Captain Walker had by this time become eloquent, and defiant. Nettleton,
with his too eager perceptions, had failed to foresee the possible
fallacy of his proofs, for hope and prejudice together had prevented any
calm examination of his evidence. With a sorrowful and troubled look, he
turned away. This gave Walker greater confidence, and, in a loud but
hoarse voice he cried:
“And now I demand justice!”
“Which you shall have,” replied the General. “But first answer me; how
did this handkerchief, which bears your name, and which you confess to
having used in the stream, become _bloody_?”
That was another point of interest, and Nettleton paused to listen
attentively.
“I had a bleeding at the nose, and the reason I threw the dirty thing
away, was, I did not think it worth washing!”
“Then some person must have recovered it, washed it very carefully, and
thrown it into the stream again, for _there is_ NO _blood upon it_!”
Walker attempted a reply, but his utterance failed. The General enjoined
silence, and then stepping forward he said, in a voice sufficiently loud
to be heard by all present:
“Captain Walker, I must sum up, before you, the evidence of crimes you
have committed, which have no parallel in the history of the army, or of
crimes which have ever been, or attempted to be committed in any
civilized country. I would give you the benefit of a court-martial, were
there any doubt of your guilt, and even _now_ may _order_ a trial, but
it will only be a formal one. You had better confess your guilt, here,
before all—ask their pardon—make reparation to those you have most
injured, and die repentant!”
“I have nothing to confess!” responded Walker, bitterly.
“Have you no fear of the revelations of these two soldiers?” asked the
General, pointing to the chained ruffians.
“I have no fear! No doubt they have been bribed to conspire with you!
But, vent your spite! Go on!”
“Then, Captain Walker, I will briefly enumerate the circumstances which
have been developed, as well as the _facts_. The morning we left Grand
Prairie you were in command of the squad which escorted the prisoner,
Lieutenant Edward Wells. You had not proceeded far when you were
overtaken by two men. It was a very easy matter to secure an audience
with you as you were in the rear of the division. They suggested that
you should deliver Lieutenant Wells to them, as their commander had an
especial spite against him, and wished to secure his person. You asked
these men (I refer to the two ruffians now in chains and standing by
your side,) how they dared to approach you on such a subject, and they
replied that they had _witnessed your act_ the evening previous, and
that you need not put on airs with them! You then requested these
fellows to meet you the next evening at the upper hedge. You instructed
them to secure a number of pounds of powder for some purpose, which you
would then explain. You met them the next evening. You gave them
instructions. They were about to act upon them, when your outcries from
the cell in which _you_ had been placed, and which Lieutenant Wells had
left only a short time previously, attracted the attention of the guard,
and you were rescued. Prior to this you had offered to assist Lieutenant
Wells to escape, but you wished him to return to his cell and remain
until two or three o’clock. The fiendish act was to be committed between
twelve and one. You _pretended_ friendship, that all suspicion of the
act might be diverted from you. Have I spoken correctly, sir?”
“No doubt you have spoken according to the story of those ruffians!”
replied Walker. “You can not bring against me any _respectable_ proof. I
look to a court for the justice which I have no reason to expect here.”
“Look!”
Walker, who had been shaking like a guilty wretch during the speech of
the commander, turned in the direction indicated. The rough garb had
fallen from the ruffians; their chains were thrown aside, and, to his
astonishment and horror, there stood two of the regimental Union
officers, ADJUTANT HINTON, the husband of Alibamo, and his friend,
CAPTAIN CLARK!
Walker, who now saw how he had been entrapped, and detected in his
infamy, for a moment was utterly unmanned. But, his resolute nature soon
triumphed over his fear. Well realizing that penitence could not save
him, he sprung to his feet and said:
“This is all a miserable, contemptible conspiracy—an effort to make out
a case against me to shield that woman’s pet from the consequences of
his clearly proven crime. Hayward is dead, and can not be made to
answer, else—”
“You lie, you dirty, nasty, murderin’ skunk!”
“What!” exclaimed a dozen voices.
“He lies! the coward that stabs a man in the dark! Hayward is not dead,
but lives, and will soon by his evidence send this murderer to kingdom
come!”
With a shriek Miss Hayward bounded forward, and fell at the feet of
Nettleton, grasping his hands. Wells, who had borne bravely up until
this moment, covered his face, and wept tears of joy and of relief from
the imputation of crime. Sally Long sprung to the side of Nettleton,
and, throwing her arms around his neck she gave him a hearty kiss, which
caused him to roll up his green eyes, and appear in almost as much agony
as if he had been struck in the stomach with a cannon-ball. The word was
soon passed, and the soldiers, catching the fire, made the very welkin
ring with their shouts, while the band chimed in with the stirring
strain: “Hail to the Chief!”